Created: 2025.12.01. 10:01
Széchenyi István University has continued the cultural knowledge-sharing programme it launched in 2023, in which international students present their home countries to the residents of a children’s home in Győr and to the University community. The current event focused on island nations and the symbolism of water. The initiative drew attention to intercultural connections and the importance of shared values.
The “Me and My Country” programme series of Széchenyi István University was launched in 2023 with the aim of enabling the institution’s diverse international student community to present their cultures through personal stories to the young residents of the Győr children’s home, as well as to members of the University. In recent years, more than a dozen countries have been in the spotlight, and the initiative remains highly popular among participants. Each cultural afternoon emphasises shared values and openness towards one another, with speakers seeking points of connection that unite people from different nations rather than focusing on differences.
This year, the organisers invited students from island countries to share the cultural and natural treasures of their homelands, with special attention to the role of water. The first event of the academic year was held at the children’s home in Győr, where residents learnt about Japan and the Caribbean Island of Saint Lucia. This was followed by a session on the University’s Main Campus, where around sixty participants gathered. The programme opened with a presentation by Dr Emese Bukor, Head of the Hungarian and International Cultures Unit at the University’s Centre for Language and Culture, who introduced Hungary’s medicinal and mineral waters, its thermal resources and bathing culture. The atmosphere of the event was set by a modern rendition of the folk song “Tavaszi szél vizet áraszt” (“Spring Wind Brings the Water”), which, as part of the Bridge of Cultures symphony, symbolised connection and shared values.
Participants had the opportunity to learn about four island countries through the presentations of international students at the University. Sri Lanka was represented by Nipun Gunarathne, a Vehicle Engineering BSc student and Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holder; Mauritius by Dunputh Yashveer, a Vehicle Engineering MSc student; Saint Lucia by Imani Gaspard, a Sociology BSc student and Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holder; and Japan by three International Relations BSc students and Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holders – Shiho Nakatsu, Tokihira Kumagai and Ryota Ohata. The presenters introduced the traditions, natural beauty, gastronomy and the importance of water in their homelands through personal experiences.
Nipun Gunarathne, Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holder and Vehicle Engineering BSc student, gave a presentation on Sri Lanka (Photo: Máté Dudás)
One of the participants, International Relations student Erzsébet Maas, said that as a Hungarian she was delighted to attend the programme and returned home with a wealth of new knowledge. “The opening presentation created a wonderful atmosphere, and I found the preparation of the international students truly impressive. I especially valued the opportunity to ask personal questions after the presentations, which created a friendly and intimate environment,” she said. She added that programmes like this strengthen acceptance and openness, which are essential foundations of a well-functioning student community.
For Imani Gaspard, speaking about the island of Saint Lucia to an international audience was a special experience, and she found the other countries’ presentations equally inspiring. Dunputh Yashveer from Mauritius highlighted that he was delighted to present his homeland – often known simply as a paradise-like holiday destination – in greater depth, allowing participants to discover its natural and cultural richness from a new perspective. Both confirmed that the event helped them feel even more at home in Hungary and within the University community.
The cultural event attracted many members of Széchenyi István University’s Hungarian and international student community (Photo: Máté Dudás)
